Chapter 11

The girls flew in through the secret door after Elliott had climbed through. While Elliott closed the hatch the W.I.T.C.H. crew looked around. They were in what looked like a cellar. There were wooden boxes stacked in different places around the room. There was also a staircase that lead upward.

"We'll need disguises." Elliott said as he stood up "or at least, you four will."

"Where could we possibly find disguises in the basement of evil?" Will asked

Elliott looked around at the surrounding boxes. "Maybe in one of those."

"What are we going to do," Irma quipped "walk around the castle underneath the boxes?"

"No." Elliott replied, obviously not catching the cartoon reference "You're going to wear the clothing inside the boxes." Elliott wrenched open the box closest to him. Inside was cloaks and armor. "There, now you can disguise yourselves as castle guards."

Taranee picked up one of the cloaks and examined it "I just hope there's no blood sucking insects in these."

They all wore cloaks as they walked through the castle because the armor was too big and heavy. Elliott had decided to change his cloak after all, because his stuck out from the others. They walked silently through the halls with their hoods up. They walked through winding corridors with high ceilings. Irma began to grow agitated. Elliott seemed to sense her distress and he took hold of her hand. However he let go quickly as a servant turned the corner. Elliott pointed in the direction the servant came from to let the Guardians know where to go. The turned the corner to see two large magnificent doors.

"He's in there." Elliott spoke in a low tone.

"What? No guards?" Cornelia questioned Daemon's security system

"He's waiting for us." Elliott hissed "Then I was wrong."

"Wrong about what?" Will asked

"About what he planed to do with Hay Lin. Apparently he wanted to lure us in."

"So it's a trap?" asked Irma

"Yep."

"Are we still going in?"

"Yep."

Elliott lifted his hand with his palm facing the doors. Seconds later the door opened to allow the Guardians and Elliott inside. They stepped through the threshold. They took only a few steps before the doors slammed behind them. They all turned in surprise.

"Finally, you've arrived." the group turned back around to see Daemon sitting in a large throne. He sat casually, with his legs crossed and his chin on his fist, which was supported by the arm of the throne. "I was beginning to think you didn't care for your friend." Daemon's snide remark caused Irma to clench her fists.

"Where is she?" Will demanded

"Not far." Daemon answered still casual. He snapped his fingers and two guards entered from a passage near Daemon's side of the room. The guards were pulling Hay Lin.

"Hey! Watch it!" Hay Lin yelled at the Guards.

"Hay Lin!" the girls exclaimed in unison

"Let her go!" Elliott demanded

"What ever you say." Daemon snapped his fingers again and the guards threw Hay Lin at the Guardians. Irma and Taranee managed to catch her.

"Are you alright?" Taranee asked Hay Lin

"Yeah, thanks."

Elliott turned to Irma "I didn't think that would work."

Irma shrugged her shoulders. They all turned their heads at the sound of Daemon laughing. "You honestly thought it was her I wanted?" the amusement in his voice died suddenly, "No, dear brother, It was you!" Daemon stood up. His figure looked ominous standing at the top of the throne's platform.

"I had to lure you here somehow." Daemon explained Elliott who looked confused and angry at the same time. "I was going to capture your girlfriend," He grinned menacingly at Irma "but in the heat of the moment I grabbed the wrong one." Daemon began slowly descending the platform stairs, "But I soon found out from...Hay Lin was it?" Hay Lin scowled, "that her friends would come rescue her. I also knew that you," Daemon set his eyes on Elliott "would never allow them to come here without you to guide them."

"So what is it you want from me?!" Elliott demanded

"I would think that was obvious." Daemon reached the bottom of the stairs. He pulled out a sword from his belt "Give me the heart of Ronkar! I know you have it!"

Elliott smiled "You still don't have it." amusement rang in his voice.

"No." Daemon admitted "But I will soon." Daemon charged, his sword fully extended. Elliott responded by jumping away from the Guardians and taking a sword from one of the guards. He blocked Daemon's attack.

"I don't have it." sparks flew from their collided swords

"Don't lie to me!" Daemon hissed "You're the only one father would have given it to."

They pushed away from each other and began swinging the swords at their opponent. The swords clanged together as the brothers sparred.

"I'm not lying." Elliott said as he deflected his brother's attack. "Besides," he continued as he attempted an attack of his own, "even if I did have it, I wouldn't give it to you."

"We'll see about that." Daemon smoothly knocked the sword out of Elliott's hand and pointed his own at Elliott. "I told you, you're no match for me."

Suddenly Irma tackled Daemon, but he gripped her arm and forced her against a wall. He lifted the sword to her neck.

"Irma!" Elliott cried "What are you doing?!"

"He has the others." she answered

Elliott looked at where the Guardians had been standing to see Daemon's guards had captured all of them. They just finished tying them up in chains. Will was unconscious. Elliott assumed she had been a handful for the guards so they knocked her out. He looked back at Daemon and Irma. Daemon was grinning.

"Now give me the heart." Daemon brought the sword closer to Irma's neck making her tense up.

"For the last time I don't have it." Elliott protested, fearing for Irma.

"I will kill her." hissed Daemon

"Please, I don't have it." the blade pressed against Irma's neck. Irma's eyes grew wide with fear. "Please!" Elliott begged "If I had it I would give it to you, just don't hurt her."

"You really care for her that much?" Daemon looked between the two of them "Pathetic." Daemon let down his sword, to the relief of both Elliott and Irma, but he kept a tight grip on her. "If you don't have it then who does?" Daemon demanded

"I don't know." Elliott said regaining some of his confidence.

"Father doesn't have it, and you don't, then who...?" Daemon's eyes popped open with realization. He shoved Irma toward Elliott. She hit the ground with a grunt and Elliott rushed to her side.

"Well it's been fun," Daemon said, beckoning his guards, "but I have to be going." with that he teletransported somewhere unknown to Elliott and the Guardians.